List of ship launches in 1938

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The list of ship launches in 1938 includes a chronological list of some ships launched in 1938.

Date	Country	Builder	Location	Ship	Class	Notes
22 January	Sweden	Öresundsvarvet	Landskrona	Rose	Cargo ship	For Hvalfangerselskapet Kosmos A/S
14 February	United States	Bethlehem Shipbuilding	San Francisco	Maury	Gridley-class destroyer	[1]
February	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	Citizen No. 1	Tank barge	For Citizens Oil Co. [2]
3 March	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Lochavon	Cargo ship	For Royal Mail Line. [3]
13 March	United States	New York Shipbuilding Corporation	Camden, New Jersey	Phoenix	Brooklyn-class cruiser
14 March	United Kingdom	Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.	Blyth, Northumberland	Barbican	Bar-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [4]
16 March	Germany	Deutsche Werft	Hamburg	Santa Cruz	Cargo ship	For Oldenburg Portuguese Line. [5]
17 March	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Belfast	Town-class cruiser	For Royal Navy.
19 March	Japan	Mitsubishi	Nagasaki	Chikuma	Tone-class cruiser	For Imperial Japanese Navy. [6]
15 April	United States	Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company	Newport News, Virginia	St. Louis	St. Louis-class cruiser
16 April	United States	Federal Shipbuilding	Kearny, New Jersey	Benham	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
28 April	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Donax	Tanker	For Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co. [7]
5 May	United States	Norfolk Navy Yard	Norfolk, Virginia	Rowan	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
5 May	United States	Norfolk Navy Yard	Norfolk, Virginia	Stack	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
14 May	United States	Boston Navy Yard	Boston, Massachusetts	Mayrant	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
14 May	United States	Boston Navy Yard	Boston, Massachusetts	Trippe	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
16 May	Japan	Kawasaki	Kobe	Mizuho	Seaplane carrier	[8]
28 May	United Kingdom	Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.	Blyth, Northumberland	Barbrook	Bar-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [9]
31 May	United Kingdom	J. Samuel White	Cowes	Egret	Egret-class sloop	For Royal Navy. [10]
31 May	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Waimarama	Cargo ship	For Shaw Savill Line. [11]
11 June	United States	Federal Shipbuilding	Kearny, New Jersey	Ellet	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
14 June	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Durban Castle	Passenger ship	For Union-Castle Line. [12]
15 June	Germany	DeSchiMAG	Bremen	Karl Galster	Type 1936-class destroyer
28 June	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Dromus	Tanker	For Anglo Saxon Petroleum Co.
28 June	Japan	Uraga Dock Company	Uraga	Shiranui	Kagerō-class destroyer	For Imperial Japanese Navy.
29 June	United Kingdom	Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.	Dundee	Glenearn	Cargo ship	For Blue Funnel Line. [13]
29 June	United Kingdom	Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd.	Grangemouth	Robert Middleton	Icemaid type collier	For Ministry of War Transport. Completed as a Dundas-class coastal stores carrier for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. [14]
30 June	United Kingdom	Denny	Dumbarton	Auckland	Egret-class sloop	For Royal Navy. [10]
7 July	Norway	Royal Norwegian Navy Shipyard	Horten	Gyller	Sleipner-class destroyer
17 July	United Kingdom	Smiths Dock Company	South Bank-on-Tees, Middlesbrough	Bembridge	Pilot cutter	For Trinity House. [15]
27 July	United Kingdom	Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson	Wallsend, England	Dominion Monarch	Cargo liner	For Shaw, Savill & Albion Line
28 July	United Kingdom	Cammell Laird	Birkenhead, England	Mauretania	Ocean liner	For Cunard Line
28 July	United States	Philadelphia Naval Shipyard	Philadelphia	Rhind	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
July	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	Todd Johnson 17	Tank barge	For Todd Johnson Drydocks Inc. [2]
July	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	4 unnamed vessels	Tank barges	For Southern Kraft Corporation. [2]
22 August	Germany	Germaniawerft	Kiel	Prinz Eugen	Modified Admiral Hipper-class cruiser
23 August	United Kingdom	Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.	Blyth, Northumberland	Barcastle	Bar-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [16]
25 August	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	British Fidelity	Tanker	For British Tanker Company. [17]
28 August	Germany	DeSchiMAG	Bremen	Wilhelm Heidkamp	Type 1936-class destroyer
28 August	United States	Federal Shipbuilding	Kearny, New Jersey	Lang	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
August	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	J.H.C. No. 4	Tank barge	For J. H. Coppedge. [2]
date	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	Error: {{SS}} missing name (help)	Steamship	For . [2]
August	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	2 unnamed vessels	Tank barges	For Southern Kraft Corporation. [2]
1 September	Denmark	Nylands Verksted	Copenhagen	Dr. Heinrich Wiegand	Cargo ship	For Argo Line.
9 September	United Kingdom	Hawthorn Leslie and Company	Hebburn-on-Tyne	Jervis	J-class destroyer	[18]
12 September	United Kingdom	Thornycroft	Woolston	Pelican	Egret-class sloop	For Royal Navy. [10]
15 September	Germany	Germaniawerft	Kiel	Steiermark	Cargo ship	For Hamburg America Line. [5]
20 September	Germany	DeSchiMAG	Bremen	Anton Schmitt	Type 1936-class destroyer
22 September	Germany	Blohm + Voss	Hamburg	Mircea	Gorch-Fock-class sail training ship	For Romanian Navy
24 September	Finland	Wärtsilä Hietalahti Shipyard	Helsinki	Sisu	Icebreaker	For Finnish Board of Navigation
26 September	United Kingdom	J. Samuel White	Cowes	Jersey	J-class destroyer
27 September	United Kingdom	John Brown & Company	Clydebank, Scotland	Queen Elizabeth	Ocean liner	For Cunard Line
27 September	Japan	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	Maizuru	Kagerō	Kagerō-class destroyer	[19]
29 September	Germany	Deschimag Seebeckwerft	Wesermünde	Jan Mayen	Fishing trawler	For Norddeutsche Hochseefischerei AG
September	Germany	Deschimag Seebeckwerft	Wesermünde	Weser	Fishing trawler	For Hanseatische Hochseefischerei AG
11 October	United Kingdom	Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson	Wallsend	Janus	J-class destroyer
11 October	United Kingdom	Blythwood Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.	Glasgow	San Demetrio	Tanker	For Eagle Oil & Shipping Co. Ltd.
12 October	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Pretoria Castle	Passenger ship	For Union-Castle Line.
25 October	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Cairndale	Tanker	For Royal Fleet Auxiliary. [20]
25 October	United Kingdom	John Brown & Company	Clydebank	Jackal	J-class destroyer	[18]
25 October	United Kingdom	Hawthorn Leslie and Company	Hebburn-on-Tyne	Kelly	K-class destroyer
25 October	Japan	Fujinagata Shipyard	Osaka	Kuroshio	Kagerō-class destroyer	For Imperial Japanese Navy.
27 October	United Kingdom	Yarrow & Company	Scotstoun	Jupiter	J-class destroyer
27 October	United States	Charleston Naval Shipyard	North Charleston, South Carolina	Sterett	Benham-class destroyer	[1]
October	Germany	Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG	Bremen	Neidenfels	Cargo liner	For Deutsche Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft "Hansa"
8 November	United Kingdom	Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd	Blyth, Northumberland	Bayonet	Net-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [21]
8 November	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Richmond Castle	Refrigerated cargo ship	For Union-Castle Line. [22]
22 November	United Kingdom	William Denny & Brothers	Dumbarton	Jaguar	J-class destroyer
29 November	Japan	Maizuru Naval Arsenal	Maizuru	Oyashio	Kagerō-class destroyer	For Imperial Japanese Navy.
5 December	United Kingdom	Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd	Blyth, Northumberland	Falconet	Net-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [23]
8 December	Germany	Deutsche Werke	Kiel	Graf Zeppelin	Graf Zeppelin-class aircraft carrier
8 December	United Kingdom	Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Company	Govan	Juno	J-class destroyer
8 December	Japan	Harima Zōsen KK	Aioi, Harima	Kuroshio Maru	Kawasaki-type oiler	For Chigai Kisen KK
8 December	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	Rowallan Castle	Refrigerated cargo ship	For Union-Castle Line. [24]
20 December	United Kingdom	Harland & Wolff	Belfast	San Emiliano	Tanker	For Eagle Oil and Shipping Company. [25]
21 December	United Kingdom	John Brown & Company	Clydebank	Javelin	J-class destroyer
December	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	B 5	Dredger	For Atlantic Dredging. [2]
Unknown date	Germany	Lübecker Maschinenbau Gesellschaft	Lübeck	Adler	Cargo liner	For Argo Reederei Richard Adler & Co
Unknown date	Danzig	Danziger Werft AG	Danzig	Amrum	Coastal tanker	For Kriegsmarine. [26]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd.	Goole	Barcombe	Bar-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [27]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd.	Goole	Barcroft	Bar-class boom defence vessel	For Royal Navy. [27]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Blyth Dry Docks & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd	Blyth, Northumberland	B.H.M. Motor Ferry No. 4	Ferry	For Blyth Harbour Commissioners. [28]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Cochrane & Son Ltd.	Selby	Brahman	Tug	For United Towing Co. Ltd. [29]
Unknown date	Germany	Schulte & Bruns	Emden	Coburg	Fishing trawler	For H. Bischoff & Co
Unknown date	Netherlands	Nederlands Scheepsbouw Maatschappij	Vlissingen	Denbighshire	Cargo ship	For Blue Funnel Line. [30]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd.	Sunderland	Eisdanger	Norwegian-type tanker	For Westfal-Larsen & Co. A/S. [31]
Unknown date	Germany	Neptun Werft	Rostock	Friedrich Karl	Cargo ship	For Reederei Wendenhof GmbH
Unknown date	Germany	F. Schichau GmbH.	Elbing	Gabelsflach	tanker	For Kriegsmarine. [32]
Unknown date	Germany	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft	Flensburg	Haga	Cargo ship	For Mathies Reederei
Unknown date	Germany	Neptun AG	Rostock	Hannah Boge	Cargo ship	For J. M. K. Blumenthal. [33]
Unknown date	Germany	Bremer Vulkan Schiffs- und Maschinenbau	Stettin	Hohenfels	Cargo ship	For Hansa Line. [34]
Unknown date	United Kingdom			John Holt	Cargo ship	For John Holt & Co (Liverpool) Ltd. [35]
Unknown date	United Kingdom			Johnathan Holt	Cargo ship	For John Holt & Co (Liverpool) Ltd. [35]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Cochrane & Son Ltd.	Selby	Krooman	Tug	For United Towing Co Ltd. [29]
Unknown date	Germany	Schiffbau-Gesellschaft Unterweser AG,	Wesermünde	Luna	Passenger ship	For Dampfschiffahrts Gesellschaft Neptun AG (Neptun Line).
Unknown date	United Kingdom	British Power Boat Company	Hythe	MMS 51	MMS-class minesweeper	For Royal Navy. [36]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Charles Connell & Co Ltd	Glasgow	Mountpark	Cargo ship	For J. & J. Denholm Ltd. [37]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Cochrne & Sons Ltd.	Selby	Marinia	tug	For Overseas Towage & Salvage Co. Ltd. [38]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Cochrne & Sons Ltd.	Selby	Neptunia	tug	For Overseas Towage & Salvage Co. Ltd. [39]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Cochrane & Son Ltd.	Selby	Norman	Tug	For United Towing Co. Ltd. [29]
Unknown date	Germany	Deutsche Werft.	Hamburg	Patria	Ocean liner	For private owner. [40]
Unknown date	Germany	Deutsche Werft	Hamburg	Pomona	Cargo ship	For F. Laiesz & Co. [34]
Unknown date	United States	Campbell Industries	San Diego	Prospect	Tuna clipper	For Star & Crescent Boat Company
Unknown date	Germany	Studen und Reederei GmbH	Beidenfleth	Sachsen	Sealer	For Studen und Reederei GmbH.
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Cochrane & Sons Ltd.	Selby	Salvonia	tug	For Overseas Towage & Salvage Co. Ltd. [38]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd.	Sunderland	Sandanger	Norwegian-type tanker	For Westfal-Larsen & Co. A/S. [31]
Unknown date	Germany	Howaldtswerke	Kiel	Schwan	Cargo ship	For Argo Line
Unknown date	Germany	H. C. Stulcken	Hamburg	Sperber	Light seaplane tender	For Luftwaffe use
Unknown date	Germany	Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG	Bremen	Süderau	Cargo ship	For Bugsier Reederei und Bergungs AG
Unknown date	Sweden	Oresunds Varvet.	Landskrona	Viator	Cargo ship	For private owner. [41]
Unknown date	Norway	Moss Vaerft & Dokk.	Moss	Wandsbek	Cargo ship	For Knohr & Burchard. [42]
Unknown date	United Kingdom	Charles Connell & Co Ltd	Glasgow	Wellpark	Cargo ship	For J. & J. Denholm Ltd. [37]
Unknown date	United States	Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company	Mobile, Alabama	Unnamed	Tank barge	For private owner. [2]

References

1. Friedman 1982, p. 439.
2. "ALABAMA SHIPYARD". Shipbuildinghistory. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
3. "Lochavon". The Yard. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
4. "Barbican". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
5. Lenton 1966, p. 14.
6. Jentschura, Jung & Mikel 1977, p. 87.
7. "Donax". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
8. Jentschura, Jung & Mikel 1977, pp. 65–66.
9. "Barbrook". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
10. Hague 1993, p. 67.
11. "Waimarama". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
12. "Durban Castle". The Yard. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
13. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 37.
14. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 210.
15. "History of THPV Bembridge by Andrew Adams and others". Magemar Polska. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
16. "Barcastle". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
17. "British Fidelity". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
18. Friedman 2008 , p. 326
19. Jentschura, Jung & Mikel 1977 , pp. 148–149
20. "Cairndale". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
21. "Bayonet". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
22. "Richmond Castle". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
23. "Falconet". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
24. "Rowallan Castle". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
25. "San Emiliano". The Yard. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
26. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, pp. 469–70.
27. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 257.
28. "B.H.M. Motor Ferry No. 4". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
29. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 312.
30. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 38.
31. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 134.
32. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 469.
33. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 431.
34. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 438.
35. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 43.
36. "MMS 51". Shipping & Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
37. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 46.
38. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 299.
39. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 305.
40. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, pp. 475–76.
41. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 476.
42. Mitchell & Sawyer 1990, p. 463.

Sources

• Friedman, Norman (1982). U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   0-87021-733-X.
• Friedman, Norman (2008). British Destroyers and Frigates: The Second World War and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84832-015-4.
• Hague, Arnold (1993). A History of the 71 Sloops Built in Britain and Australia for the British, Australian and Indian Navies 1926–1946. Kendal, UK: World Ship Society. ISBN   0-905617-67-3.
• Jentschura, Hansgeorg; Jung, Dieter; Mikel, Peter (1977). Warships of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1869–1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   0-87021-893-X.
• Lenton, H. T. (1966). Navies of the Second World War: German Surface Vessels. London: Macdonald & Co.
• Mitchell, WH; Sawyer, LA (1990). The Empire Ships (Second ed.). London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. ISBN   1-85044-275-4.